Article of animal apparel for &#34;Cat Paw Mittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime&#34;

ABSTRACT

An article of animal apparel for “Cat Paw Mittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” with a one piece mitten comprised flexible, cotton like, porous material, shaped to fit over each cat paw, front and rear with one user friendly design, a variable piece of dense reinforcement material affixed inside the mitten about the claw area for puncture resistance, an elastic, rubber band, or other expandable seam at the top of the mitten that when stretched open provides an opening for paw insertion, and when released provides instant closure or security, and a variable piece of material(s) on the bottom of the mitten that when wet becomes slippery taking away the cats ability to grip and execute a flee attempt giving the human control of the cat during bathtime. A preferred embodiment that maximizes fur exposure for the purpose of bathing while providing human protection from painful scratches during bathtime.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of an article of animalapparel and more specifically to Cat Paw Mittens to Prevent PainfulScratching During Bathtime. Cats have a natural aversion to water,particularly bathing. They usually struggle and use their claws as ameans to escape during bathtime causing painful scratches or injury tothe human. In lieu of this behavior and for other reasons, boots orprotective boots for animals in general are well known in the arts.Boots have been created to prohibit an animals claws from causingdamage. Others have been designed primarily to protect an animals pawsfrom cold, heat, or injury. Furthermore, some have been developed to aidin the bathing of an animal.

-   U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,565 to Kellam discloses an article of animal    apparel including a pair of boots adapted to be worn on the front    paws of a cat to facilitate bathing.-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,095 to Ralls discloses a protective covering for    a cat's feet to prevent destructive behavior. The boots are made    from a durable, puncture resistant material and are attached with    gators.-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,828 to Soloman et al. discloses a seamless    animal boot with a hook and loop strap.-   U.S. Des. Pat. No. 379,251 to Mezey (1997) discloses an animal boot    with either one or two straps.-   U.S. Des. Pat. No. 387,511 to Caditz (1997) discloses an animal boot    with one strap.-   U.S. Des. Pat. No. 382,378 to Stark (1997) discloses an animal boot    with a built in attachment.-   U.S. Pat. No. 2,446,371 to Jones (1946) discloses a slip on dog boot    with a roughened sole to prevent slippage.-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,812 to Stark (1995) discloses a dog boot with a    foot portion and two attachment straps.-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,685 to Thomas (1995) discloses a dog boot with a    foot portion and a single hook and loop strap made out of puncture    resistant material.-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,261 to Marshall (1984) discloses a dog boot with    a foot portion and a single hook and loop strap.

Prior inventions with the exceptions of a few such as U.S. Pat. No.3,747,565 Kellam, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,095 Rails were designedspecifically for a dog or broadly for dogs or cats, or broadly for ananimal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,565 to Kellam discloses an article of animalapparel including a pair of boots adapted to be worn on the front pawsof a cat to facilitate bathing. The boots are encompassed within meshsleeves which are tied across the back of the animal. Kellams boots areplaced on the front pair paws consisting of a boots and sleeve whichextends along the legs and body portion and across the back. The sleeveportion restricts some of the direct exposure to of the fur during bathtime, and does not facilitate the rear paws which cats will use to jump,push away, and claw when agitated during bathtime. Kellam does notfacilitate the rear paws which can be even more of an issue duringbathtime because of the strength in a cats hind legs. Kellams boots areconnected by means of a snap fastener having a female portion disposedon the split end and a male portion disposed on the split end. Securingthese boots suggest having to hold the cats paw for however long ittakes to secure them possibly causing the cat some stress as theembodiment takes many steps to complete the application.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,095 to Ralls discloses a protective covering for acat's feet to prevent destructive behavior. The boots are made from adurable, puncture resistant material and are attached with gators. Railsdoes not disclose protection from the rear claws. Rails invention isdesigned so that the paw coverings cannot be removed by an animal bymere pulling or chewing. Cats naturally pull away their paws whensomeone tries to touch or hold the paw. This natural aversion would makethe prior invention technology not user friendly. The new user friendlyinvention is concerned with user friendliness, short term wear, easyapplication, and quick removal.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,828 to Solomon discloses a pet animal boot with anadjustable fastening strap is included for securing the boot to ananimal's leg. Once again, this prior invention requires more than onestep of securing the boot to the animal paw. Rawls invention relates tothe protection of pet paws from harsh weather conditions preventinginjury to the animal and is made to be waterproof. The new, userfriendly invention is created to be porous to allow suds to penetrateduring bathtime and is created to only prevent injury to the human byusing a reinforcement material only about the claw area.

Previous invention methods of attaching the boots have had more than onestep, some with several steps, and multi-articles making the applicationtime inefficient and not user friendly.

The new invention is designed specifically for a cat paw. The new userfriendly invention provides optimal results for a cat bathing with itscustom shape, fit and size, that facilitates both front and back pawswith one design allowing for maximum fur exposure. The new invention hasa one step application process making the cat mittens user friendly andable to be attached by only one person, and also with one hand. Becauseof the expandable seam the application process can be done in a one stepprocess by simply stretching the band open between the index fingers andthumb to create the opening for the paw, then releasing the mitten overthe paw in one motion. Since the new invention has no straps, or loops,or ties, application is so simple that a child would find theapplication easy. The new invention is concerned with quick application,quick removal, and that they remain on the cats paws only for theduration of the bath averaging 10 to 20 minutes. The new invention givesmaximum exposure to the fur coat for washing while also allowing paws tobe subjected to washing because of the porous material used in themajority of the embodiment allowing sudsy water to penetrate about themitten and rinsed. The new user friendly invention inhibits the use ofall four clawed paws, not only the front paws. The new invention hasadded a pro-slip feature to the bottom of the mitten that will becomeslippery when wet; this will discourage the cat from fleeing by reducingits ability to grip; making the cat more submissive to the humansplacement and hand hold. Because the new invention fits both front andrear paws, humans are protected while carrying the cat to and frombathtime where rear paws are likely to have contact with the human body.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide protection from catsclaws during bathtime and prevent painful scratches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a user friendly cat mittenfor use during bathtime.

Another object of the invention is to provide a user friendly cat mittenthat can be applied to the cat paw in one step.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical cat mitteneasily applied to a cat paw with no use of straps, snaps, or loops.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mitten capable ofbeing applied with one hand and removed immediately.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide claw protectionso simple in application a child could use them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a temporary protectionfrom cat claws.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more pleasant catbathing experience to humans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mitten that promotesslippage providing more human control of the cat.

Yet another object of the invention is to reduce a cats gripping abilityduring bathtime and reduce chance of escape by inhibiting their maindefense mechanism.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a paw mittenspecially designed to fit a cats paw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a style of cat paw mittensuitable for front and rear paws.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternative to humanswho clip cat nails for the purpose of bathtime.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cat mitten that allowsfor maximum exposure to fur during bathtime.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isdisclosed an article of animal apparel for “Cat Paw Mittens to PreventScratching During Bathtime” comprising: a one piece mitten comprisedflexible, cotton like, porous material shaped to fit over each cat paw,front and rear with one user friendly design, a variable piece of densereinforcement material affixed inside the mitten about the claw area forpuncture resistance, an elastic, rubber band, or other expandable seamat the top of the mitten that when stretched open provides an openingfor the paw, and when released provides the instant closure or security,and a variable piece of material(s) on the bottom of the mitten thatwhen wet becomes slippery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects ofthe invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate anunderstanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cat paw mitten

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a human using their fingers to open the mittenfor paw insertion

FIG. 3 is a clear view of the paw inside the mitten

FIG. 4 is an inside out view of the mitten depicting the innerreinforcement material

FIG. 5 is a clear view of a cat claws over the inner reinforcementmaterial

FIG. 6 is the rear view of the mitten featuring the slipperyembellishment

FIG. 7 is a car wearing the mitten, one on each paw

FIG. 8-12 are perspective views of the application process

FIG. 11-12 a perspective view of the one step application process

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein.It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may beembodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailedsystem, structure or manner.

Turning first to FIG. 1 is shown the Cat Paw Mitten to preventscratching during bathtime comprising of a one piece flexible, porousmaterial shaped to fit a cats paw 10. One cat paw mitten fits all fourcat paws. It is often the desire to clean the cats paws; a porousmaterial, that will allow sudsy soap to pass through the material on tothe paw to enable cleansing is preferred. The top of the said mitten 11is an elastic material or some other expandable seam which enables thefabric to be stretched as in FIG. 2 to accommodate the size of the paw,enabling the cat paw to be inserted into the mitten. Following thepreferred procedure is the second advantage of the elastic likeexpandable opening which is the almost instantaneous closure by simplyreleasing it. The seam in its closed state allows the article to fitsnugly around the upper portion of the paw FIG. 5, 11, providing a gripthat will withstand the cat attempting to shake off the mittenimmediately, and withstand the water pressure during bathtime. The meansof by which the closure is gathered around the paw gently catches somefur in the gathering process that also aids in the grip or security. Theelastic like closure also facilitates quick application. Cats naturallypull away their paws when someone attempts to hold or pull on theirpaws. The elastic like material 11 creates such an instantaneous closurewhen released on to the paw, the process beats the cats reaction time.The elastic like closure also gives the added benefit by folding theseam over the humans first two index fingers and thumb, the band is ableto be stretched open with one hand, and inserted over the paw, thenquickly released, making the mitten applicable with one hand. Thisprocess of application FIG. 8-12 makes the mitten user friendly. Humanswill find this useful because this will free the other arm to hold thecat. The elastic like opening and closure also makes removal simplewithout any ties or Velcro, or snaps to remove or undo. One motiondownward removes the mitten from the paw immediately. FIG. 3 of thepreferred embodiment illustrates the mitten on the cat paw.

The preferred embodiment allows for maximum fur exposure for bathing.

Turning to FIG. 4, the mitten is lined with a variable piece ofreinforcement material about the claw area to reduce or completelyreduce claws from penetrating the mitten and scratching the human duringbathtime. This material is only attached about the claw area 12 tomaintain the porosity of the majority of the mitten. The reinforcementmaterial can be made from a simple extra layer of cotton material forlight protection to puncture resistant materials such as Kevlar makingthe mitten puncture proof. When the cat is being bathed the animal maytry to use its claws to escape but the layer of protection asillustrated in FIG. 5 will prohibit their claws from being used as ameans of defense or escape.

The preferred embodiment features pieces of material sewn onto thebottom of the mitten to enhance slippage FIG. 6. This material is can befabricated into the shapes of the paw pads. 5 separate pieces 13creating an aesthetic look of a paw yet is for the function of becomingslippery when wet as a way to force the cat to concentrate onmaintaining his balance during bathtime. The cat will not flee if hedoes not feel the grip under his feet to leap or run. The cat is forcedto used his muscles and energy just to stand. It's general practice forthe human to hold the cat with one hand while bathing him with the otherhand. This feature gives the human more control and the cat less optionsto escape.

FIG. 7 depicts a cat wearing cat paw mitten apparel on each of his paws.

FIG. 8-12 Illustrates the process of applying the kitty paw mitten withone hand and without the use of straps, and with one step application asillustrated specifically in FIGS. 11, 12.

FIG. 8 Mitten is opened from the top with first hand by insertingfingers inside the mitten about the rim area and then is stretched open.Mitten is positioned over the second hand; lower portion of mitten iscupped in the palm of the second hand while the fingers, specificallythe two index fingers and thumb are in a pinch position. The elastic rimportion of the mitten previously stretched in the first hand folds theover the opposite hands fingers in the pinch position. FIG. 11 By usingthe fingers and the thumb, kitty paw mitten is stretched open wideenough for the paw to fit into. FIG. 12 Paw is inserted into the mittenby second hand with an upward motion of the open mitten over the pawthen released once mitten is over the paw far enough. Once releasedkitty paw can be freely adjusted as needed.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. An article of animal apparel for “Cat Paw Mittens to PreventScratching During Bathtime” comprising: a one piece mitten comprisedflexible, cotton like, porous material shaped to fit over each cat paw,front and rear with one user friendly design; a variable piece of densereinforcement material affixed inside the mitten about the claw area forpuncture resistance; an elastic, rubber band, or other expandable seamat the top of the mitten that when stretched open provides an openingfor the paw, and when released provides the instant closure or security;and a variable piece of material(s) on the bottom of the mitten thatwhen wet becomes slippery,.
 2. An article of animal apparel for “Cat PawMittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” as claimed in claim 1wherein said one piece mitten is sized to fit a cats paw both frontpairs and rear pairs which has an opening on the top for paw insertionand closed at the bottom
 3. An article of animal apparel for “Cat PawMittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” as claimed in claim 1wherein said one piece mitten is user friendly by providing a one stepprocess of application
 4. An article of animal apparel for “Cat PawMittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” as claimed in claim 1wherein said one piece mitten is porous enough for suds to penetrate andbe rinsed through while maintaining maximum fur exposure for the purposeof bathing
 5. An article of animal apparel for “Cat Paw Mittens toPrevent Scratching During Bathtime” as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidvariable dense piece of reinforcement material is sewn or glued into theinner lining of the mitten positioned about the claws provides aprotective barrier from claws penetrating through the mitten givingprotection to the human from painful scratches
 6. An article of animalapparel for “Cat Paw Mittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic, rubber band, or otherexpandable seam at the top of the mitten provides a one step process ofclosing by simply releasing it after being stretched open and placedover the paw then released into a tight hold
 7. An article of animalapparel for “Cat Paw Mittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” asclaimed in claim 4 wherein said elastic or rubber band closure causesthe material to gather in such a way that it catches the fur and aidesin securing the mitten during bathtime making it difficult for the catto shake it off and secure enough to stay on during bathtime andsubsequently accommodating quick removal
 8. An article of animal apparelfor “Cat Paw Mittens to Prevent Scratching During Bathtime” as claimedin claim 1 wherein said variable piece of material(s) on the bottom ofthe mitten that when wet becomes slippery forces the cat to concentrateon maintaining balance while standing, while simultaneously taking awayhis ability to grip to execute a flee attempt giving the human morecontrol of the cat during bathtime